Supermarine Spitfire and Seafire
Mks I to 24 and Seafire I, III, XV, XVII and 45-47
Origin: Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers) Ltd; also built by, Vickers-Armstrongs, Castle Bromwich, and Westland Aircraft; (Seafire) Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft and Westland.
Type: Single-seat fighter, fighter-bomber or reconnaissance; (Seafire) carrier-based fighter.
Engine: One Rolls-Royce Merlin or Griffon vee-12 liquid-cooled (see text)
Dimensions: Span 36ft 10in (11-23m), clipped, 32ft 2in, or, more often, 32ft 7in (9-93m), extended, 40ft 2in (12-24m); length 29ft 11in (9-12m), later, with two-stage engine, typically 31ft 3 1/2in (9-54m), Griffon engine, typically 32ft 8in (9-96m), final (eg Seafire 47) 34ft 4in (10-46m); height 11ft 5in (3-48m), with Griffon, typically 12ft 9in (3-89m).
Weights: Empty (Mk I) 4,810lb (2182kg); (IX) 5,610lg (2545kg); (XIV) 6,700lb (3040kg); (Sea.47) 7,625lb (3458kg); maximum loaded (I) 5,784lb (2624kg); (IX) 9,500lb (4310kg); (XIV) 10,280lb (4663kg); (Sea.47) 12,750lb (5784kg).
Performance: Maximum speed (I) 355-362mph (580km/h); (IX) 408mph (657km/h); (XIV) 448mph (721km/h); (Sea.47) 451mph (724km/h); initial climb (I) 2,530ft (770m)/min; (IX) 4,100ft (1250m)/min; (XIV) 4,580ft (1396m)/min; (Sea.47) 4,800ft (1463m)/min; range on internal fuel (I) 395 miles (637km); (IX) 434 miles (700km); (XIV) 460 miles (740km); (Sea.47) 405 miles (652km).
Armament: See "Development" text.
History: First flight (prototype) 5 March 1936; (production Mk I) July 1938; final delivery (Mk24) October 1947.
Users: (Wartime) Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, italy (CB), Jugoslavia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Soviet Union, Turkey, UK (RAF, RN), US (AAF).
Development: Possibly the most famous combat aircraft in history, the Spitfire was designed by the dying Reginald Mitchell to Specification F.37/34 using the new Rolls-Royce PV.12 engine later named Merlin. It was the first all-metal stressed-skin fighter to go into production in Britain. The following were main versions.
I initial version, 450 ordered in June 1936 with 1,030hp Merlin II, two-blade fixed-pitch propeller and four 0-303in Browning guns. Later MkIA with eight guns, bulged canopy and three-blade DH v-p propeller and Mk IB with two 20mm Hispano and four 0-303. Production: 1,566.
II Mk I built at Castle Bromwich with 1,175hp Merlin XII and Rotol propeller. Production: 750 IIA (eight 0-303), 170 IIB (two 20mm, four 0-303).
III Single experimental model; strengthened Mk I with many changes.
IV Confusing because Mk IV was first Griffon-engined, one built. Then unarmed Merlin photo-reconnaissance Mk IV delivered in quantity. Production: 229.
V Like PR.IV powered by 1,440hp Merlin 45, many detail changes, main fighter version 1941-42 in three forums: VA, eight 0-303; VB, two 20mm and four 0-303; VC "universial" wing with choice of guns plus two 250lb (113kg) bombs. All with centreline rack for 500lb (227kg) bomb or tank. Many with clipped wings and/or tropical filter under nose. Production: VA, 94; VB, 3,923; VC, 2,447.
VI High-altitude interim interceptor, 1,415hp Merlin 47, pressurised cockpit, two 20mm and four 0-303. Production: 100.
VII High-altitude, extended wing-tips, new 1,660hp Merlin 61 with two-stage supercharger (and symmetrical underwing radiators); retractable tailwheel, later broad and pointed rudder. Pressurised cockpit. Production: 140.
VIII Followed interim Mk IX, virtually unpressurised Mk VII in LF (low-altitude, clipped), F (standard) and HF (high-altitude, extended) versions. Production: 1,658.
IX Urgent version to counter Fw 190, quick lash-up of V with Merlin 61; again LF, F and HF versions, plus IXE with two 20mm and two 0-5in. Production: 5,665.
X Pressurised photo-reconnaissance. Merlin 77, whole leading edge forming fuel tank. Production: 16.
XI As X but unpressurised, 1,760hp Merlin 63A or 1,655hp Merlin 70. Mainstay of Photo Reconnaissance Unit 1943-45. Production: 471.
XIII Low-level reconnaissance, low-rated 1,620hp Merlin 32, four 0-303. Production: 16.
XIV First with two-stage Griffon, 2,050hp Mk 65 with deep symmetric radiators and fove-blade propeller, completely redesigned airframe with new fuselage, broad fin/rudder, inboard ailerons, retractable tailwheel. F.XIV, two 20mm and four 0-303; F.XIVE, two 20mm and two 0-5in; FR.XIVE, same guns, cut-down rear fuselage and teardrop hood, clipped wings. F.24 camera and extra fuel. Active in 1944, destroyed over 300 flying bombs. Production: 957.
XVI As Mk IX but 1,705hp Packard Merlin 266; LF.IXE, E-guns and clipped, many with teardrop hood, extra fuel. Production: 1,054.
XVIII Definitive wartime fighter derived from interim XIV, extra fuel, stronger, F and FR versions, some of latter even more fuel and tropical equipment. Production: 300.
XIX Final photo-reconnaissance, 2,050hp Griffon 65 and unpressurised, then Griffon 66 with pressure cabin and increased wing tankage; both option of deep slipper tank for 1,800 mile (2900km) range. Made last RAF Spitfire sortie, Malaya, 1 April 1954. Production 225.
21 Post-war, redeisgned aircraft with different structure and shape, 2,050hp Griffon 65 or 85, four 20mm and 1,000lg (454kg) bombs. Production: 122.
22 Bubble hood, 24-volt electrics, some with 2,375hp Griffon 65 and contraprop. Production: 278.
24 Redesigned tail, short-barrel cannon, zero-length rocket launchers. Production: 54. Total Spitfire production 20,334.
Spitfire IB Navalised Spitfire VB, usually 1,415hp low-rated Merlin 46. Fixed wings but hook and slinging points. Conversions: 166.
IIC Catapult spools, strengthened landing gear, 1,645hp Merlin 32 and four-blade propeller. Various sub0types, Universal wing. Production: 262 Supermarine, 110 Westland.
III Manual double-fold wing 1,585hp Merlin 55M, various versions. Production: 870 Westland, 350 Cunliffe-Owen.
XV (Later F.15) 1,850hp Griffon VI, four-blade, asymmetric radiators, cross between Seafire III and Spitfire XII. Production: 390.
XVII (F.17) Increased fuel, cut-down fuselage and bubble hood. Production: (cut by war's end): 232.
45 New aircraft entirely, corresponding to Spitfire 21; Griffon 61 (five-blade) or 85 (contraprop); fixed wing, four 20mm. Production: 50.
46 Bubble hood like Spitfire 22. Production: 24.
47 Navalised Spitfire 24, hydraulically folding wings, carb-air intake just behind propeller, increased fuel. Fought in Malaya and Korea. Production: 140. Total Seafires: 2,556.
*Few Extras*
-----Basically tougher and more powerful than the Mks I and II, the V was the standard version in production in 1941. More were built (6,464) than any other single mark. R6923 was one of many built as a Mk1 and converted to a VB. It went to the first user of this mark, 92 Sqn, in March 1941. Below about 15,000 feet it could hold its own, but the Fw 190 was so superior at altitude the the Spitfire IX had hurriedly to be produced, mating the two-stage Merlin with the Mk V airframe.
-----When the Mk IB and IIB appeared with two 20mm Hispanos the fact was obvious to German pilots from the long faired barrels and the blisters over the ammunition drums. They found the Mk IX, however, hard to tell from a Mk V at a distance, and from 1942 had to respect all Spitfires due to the Merlin 61.
